WATERLOO, Ont. - Laurier Athletics has announced Cavell Johnson as interim head coach of the Golden Hawks men's basketball program for the 2024-25 season. 

Johnson moves into the role after Justin Serresse took a temporary leave until May 1, 2025 after being named an assistant coach with the Raptors 905 earlier this week.

Last season, Johnson was an assistant coach and community outreach consultant with the Golden Hawks.

"I'm very thankful for the opportunity and faith from Laurier to continue building on the impressive growth and development the team and Coach Justin have worked so hard to achieve over the last several years," said Johnson. "I look forward to working with the student-athletes and all the support staff within and around the program. 

"Though inherently a challenging transition, I'm surrounded by people who share the mindset of pushing one another to greatness - individually and collectively. This culture will make this journey an enjoyable one."

The 39-year-old from Fort Washington, Maryland is well-known locally as a former player and head coach of the KW Titans.

A former NCAA Division 1 student-athlete, Johnson played with the James Madison Dukes for three seasons before transferring to the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC).

He began his professional playing career in 2011 with the Beltway Bombers in the former American Professional Basketball League (ACPBL), winning a championship and named the finals MVP.

The following year, he joined the National Basketball League of Canada (NBLC), playing with the Saint John Mill Rats and Brampton A's between 2012 and 2015. In that span, he was named a league all-star and Defensive Player of the Year.

After stops in Finland's and Greece's top-tier leagues over the next two seasons, Johnson signed with the Titans before their inaugural season in 2016. 

He remained with the team until transitioning into the head coaching role mid-way through the 2017/18 season - a position he held until 2021.

"The basketball pedigree, along with the student-athlete off-the-court development Cavell possesses, makes him the ideal person to assume this role," said Laurier's associate director of interuniversity sport programs, Ryan Lannan.

"Cavell's vision for the program aligns with our mission, vision, and values and where he sees this program going in the future only bodes well for the success of our team and student-athletes."

"I look forward to working along with Cavell and the staff assembled, as they execute the vision for this upcoming year."

Johnson takes the reigns of a program coming off consecutive 14-win seasons and that has reached the postseason in each of the past seven seasons under Serresse. 

Laurier begins its 2024/25 preseason schedule on Thursday, September 19 at Humber and its regular season on Friday, October 25 at York.

Their home opener is scheduled a week later on Friday, November 1 versus Ottawa.

Single-game and season tickets are on sale now!